Chrysanthemum plant named &#39;dlfdall2&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘DLFDALL2’, characterized by its upright plant habit; uniform growth habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate; durable and robust dark green-colored leaves; strong upright flowering stems; decorative-type inflorescences with bright yellow-colored ray florets; relative tolerance to high production temperatures; and good postproduction longevity.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Varieties of Chrysanthemum Plants

Inventor/Applicant: Arie Gerard Post

Filed: Jun. 7, 2021

Ser. No. : 63/197,948

Inventor/Applicant hereby claims the priority benefit of this provisional U.S. Patent Application.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum X morifolium.

Cultivar Denomination: ‘DLFDALL2’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT & ASSIGNEE

A Columbian Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Assignee, Deliflor Royalties B. V. of Maasdijk, The Netherlands on Jul. 12, 2021, application number A212811. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

The Inventor/Applicant and Assignee assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor/Applicant and/or the Assignee. Inventor/Applicant and Assignee claim a prior art exception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum x morifolium, typically grown as a cut flower Chrysanthemum and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘DLFDALL2’.

The new Chrysanthemum plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new cut flower Chrysanthemum plants with unique and attractive inflorescences.

The new Chrysanthemum plant originated from a cross-pollination in March, 2015 of a proprietary selection of Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number KR 2011.0438-1, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number KR 2011.9169-1, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Chrysanthemum plant was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands in March, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands since March, 2016 has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysanthemum plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘DLFDALL2’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DLFDALL2’ as a new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit; uniform growth habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.     -   3. Durable and robust dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Strong upright flowering stems.     -   5. Decorative-type inflorescences with bright yellow-colored ray         florets.     -   6. Relatively tolerant to high production temperatures.     -   7. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are lighter green         in color than leaves of plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Ray floret apices of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are         mostly obtuse whereas ray floret apices of plants of the female         parent selection are emarginate.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Inflorescences of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are fully         double type (decorative) whereas inflorescences of plants of the         male parent selection are semi-double type.     -   2. Ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are bright         yellow in color whereas ray florets of plants of the male parent         selection are white in color.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘DLFALT2’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of ‘DLFALT2’ in relative leaf length to petiole length as plants of the new Chrysanthemum have longer relative leaf length to petiole length than plants of ‘DLFALT2’. In addition, ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are slightly darker yellow in color than ray florets of plants of ‘DLFALT2’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Chrysanthemum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 ) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering stein of ‘DLFDALL2’ grown as a spray-type cut flower.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 ) is a close-up view of upper (left) and lower (right) surfaces of typical inflorescences and typical leaves of ‘DLFDALL2’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the spring in ground beds in a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial cut Chrysanthemum production. Plants were initially given long day/short night treatments followed by short day/long night treatments to induce flower initiation and development. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 22° C. and light levels averaged 7 klux. Plants were grown as single-stem spray-type plants and were ten weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘DLFDALL2’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number KR             2011.0438-1, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number KR             2011.9169-1, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About four days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About six days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 13 days             at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 15 days             at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically creamy white in             color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous decorative-type cut             flower that is typically grown as a single stein spray-type;             upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth             rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 77             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of inflorescence             plane.—About 86.8 cm.         -   Plant (spray) diameter.—About 21 cm.         -   Flowering stein length.—About 75.4 cm.         -   Flowering stein diameter.—About 6 mm.         -   Flowering stein internode length.—About 2.9 cm.         -   Flowering stein strength.—Strong.         -   Flowering stein aspect.—Erect.         -   Flowering stein texture and luster.—Moderately pubescent;             slightly glossy.         -   Flowering stein color, developing.—Close to 144A.         -   Flowering stein color, developed.—Close to 144A; at the             ridges, close to 148A.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:             About 9.5 cm. Width: About 5.7 cm. Shape, in overall             outline: Obovate to broadly oblong. Apex: Abruptly acute.             Base: Attenuate. Margin: Palmately lobed, coarsely dentate             to serrate; sinuses convergent and medium to deep in depth;             not undulate. Texture and luster, upper surface: Moderately             pubescent, not rugose; slightly velvety; slightly glossy.             Texture and luster, lower surface: Moderately pubescent, not             rugose; slightly velvety; matte. Venation pattern: Pinnate.             Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to a blend of 138A             and 147B. Fully developed leaves, upper surface: Close to a             blend of 137A and NN137C; venation, close to 146C. Fully             developed leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation,             close to 146D. Petioles: Length: About 1.6 cm. Diameter:             About 2.5 mm by 3 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture             and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Densely pubescent;             moderately glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to 146D;             edges, close to 137C. Color, lower surface: Close to 146D;             edges, close to 147B. Stipules: Quantity and appearance: Two             leafy stipules, opposite, at the petiole attachment to the             stein. Length: About 8.5 mm. Width: About 1.2 cm. Shape:             Reniform; apex, acute; base, broadly cuneate; margins,             entire. Texture and luster, upper surface: Moderately             pubescent; slightly glossy. Texture and luster, lower             surface: Moderately pubescent; matte. Color, upper surface:             Close to a blend of 137A and NN137C. Color, lower surface:             Close to 147B. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Decorative-type inflorescence form with             oblanceolate-shaped ray florets and tubular disc florets;             inflorescences, rotate and flattened in overall shape;             inflorescences borne perpendicular to peduncles and face             upright; ray and disc florets develop acropetally on a             capitulum.         -   Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant; typical of Chrysanthemums.         -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant flower             in the autumn/winter in the Northern Hemisphere; at other             times of the year, inflorescence initiation and development             can be induced under short day/long night conditions (at             least 13.5 hours of darkness); uniform flowering habit and             short response time, plants exposed to two weeks of long             day/short night conditions after planting followed by             photoinductive short day/long night conditions flower about             50 days later when grown as a spray-type.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Good postproduction longevity;             after a seven-day storage period, cut flowers will maintain             good color and substance for about two weeks in an interior             environment; inflorescences persistent.         -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Typically grown as a spray-type,             about 17 inflorescences (varying between 12 and 22) develop             per flowering stein.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 7.4 cm. Depth (height):             About 2.5 cm. Disc diameter: About 3 mm; inconspicuous.         -   Receptacles.—Height: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 6 mm.             Shape: Broadly ovate. Color: Close to 145C.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: About             1.2 cm. Shape: Roughly spherical. Texture and luster:             Moderately pubescent; slightly glossy. Color: Developing             involucral bracts, close to 137C and 145B; developing ray             florets, close to 4A.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 200 arranged in             about five whorls. Length: About 2.4 cm, varying between 0.6             cm and 3.4 cm. Width: About 8 mm, varying between 0.1 cm and             1.2 cm. Shape: Oblanceolate; slightly to moderately concave;             moderately carinate. Apex: Mostly obtuse to occasionally             minutely and abruptly acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire;             not undulate. Aspect: About 50° from vertical, varying from             10° to 70° from vertical. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety; matte.             Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 6A. When             opening, lower surface: Close to 6B; towards the base, close             to 5B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 5A; towards the             base, close to 5B; venation, close to 5A and 5B; color does             not change with subsequent development. Fully opened, lower             surface: Close to 5B; venation, close to 5B; color does not             change with subsequent development.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 70 randomly             arranged at the center of the receptacle; disc florets             typically do not fully develop. Length: About 5 mm.             Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Shape: Tubular. Apex: Obtuse.             Margin, free-part: Entire. Texture and luster, inner and             outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color, when             opening: Towards the apex, close to 151A; mid-section and             towards the base, close to 145D. Color, fully opened:             Towards the apex, close to 151B; mid-section and towards the             base, close to 145D.         -   Involucral bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: About 32             arranged in about three whorls. Length: About 1 cm. Width:             About 3.5 mm. Shape: Oblong to ovate. Apex: Bluntly acute.             Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper             surface: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Texture and luster, lower             surface: Moderately pubescent; matte. Color, upper surface:             Close to NN137B; lateral margins, translucent and close to             196D and apical margins tinged with close to N199A. Color,             lower surface: Close to 138A; lateral margins, translucent             and close to 196D and apical margins tinged with close to             N199A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 8 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: Upright. Texture and luster:             Moderately to densely pubescent; moderately glossy. Color:             Close to 143A; at the ridges, close to 146B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: To date, stamen development             has not been observed on plants of the new Chrysanthemum.             Gynoecium: Present only on ray florets as disc florets do             not fully develop. Quantity: One per floret. Pistil length:             About 4 mm. Style length: About 3.25 mm. Style color: Close             to 150B to 150C. Stigma diameter: About 0.5 mm. Stigma             shape: Cleft, decurrent. Stigma color: Close to 14B. Ovary             color: Close to 157A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have             not been observed on plants of the new Chrysanthemum. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have     been observed to be resistant to Fusarium (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp.     chrysanthemi) and Western Flower Thrips (Frankliniella     occidentalis). To date, plants of the new Chrysanthemum have not     been observed to be resistant to other pathogens and pests common to     Chrysanthemum plants grown under commercial conditions. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have been     observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about −12° C. to     35° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 10. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named ‘DLFDALL2’ as illustrated and described. 